Folding seat



April 1951 H. ENRIQUEZ 2,549,368

FOLDING SEAT Filed Sept. 3, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR HENRY ENRIQUEZ I ATTORNEY H. ENRIQUEZ April 17, 1951 FOLDING SEAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 3, 1946 INVENTOR HENRY ENRIQUEZ ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING SEAT Henry Enriquez, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 3, 1946, Serial No. 694,465 BClaims. (cuss-149) This invention relates to folding stools which may be carried to a point of use where they are unfolded and set up.

It is one of the principal objects of the invention to provide a folding stool in which the framework is largely formed of flat members which, when folded together, occupy a minimum thickness and presentsm-all overall dimensions.

It is another object of this invention to provide a folding stool having a canvas or fabric seat portion so related to the folding portions of the stool that when the stool is folded up the canvas envelops the frame part in large measure. This eliminates the need for providing a separatebag for the stool to prevent other articles coming in contact with metallic parts of the stool.

. It is another object of this invention to provide in a folding stool a simple arrangement for effecting the easy collapse of all of its parts.

These and other objects of the invention will become clear from a reading of the following specification, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view'of my new stool in position for use; I

Fig. 2 shows an elevational view from the right side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section at line '3--3 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary 4-4 and 55 in Fig. 2;,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing the ring securing means; and

Fig. 7 is a reduced view showing the device collapsed and with the carrying strap in the carrying position. V

.Referring to the drawings, the stool comprises a flexible web I0, formed by canvas or the like and provided with end edges 12 and a central hole 20, the purpose of which will appear heresections at lines inafter.

comprises a pair of V-forming panels 34 which are identical. These panels 34 are provided at their respective bottom edges with hinge members 37 which are turned about'a hinge pin 38 to hinge the parts together. The panels 34 also have hinge portions 39 adjacent their top edges turned about the hinge pins 40.

Due to the weight of the panel sections 34, the

As shown in Fig. 2, the panels 34 are U -shaped and engage the hinge pins 40 only at the ends of said pin, and are provided, adjacent their side edges, with bracket angle plates 42. One side of each of said angle plates is secured to the respective side edges of the panel 34 by rivets 44 so that the sides 45 of said edge plates extend at substantially right angles to said panels. Each side 45 is provided with 'a longitudinally extending slot 45, there being a locking recess 48 adjacent the upper end of each slot.

The device includes means for limiting outward swinging of the panels '34, which means comprises toggles formed of links 50 and 52, there being such a toggle at each side of the device. The links 59 and 52 are pivoted adjacent their inner ends on a shaft 54 which extends from one side of the device to the other and the outer ends of said links are provided with headed pins 56 slidably received in the slots 46. p

The inner end of each link 50 has an extension 50a which overlaps the adjacent end of the respective link 52, said extension having an overturned ear 50b adjacent its upper side, as shown in the drawings, which overlies the adjacent edge of the link 50 and retains the links in alignment when the device is unfolded and set up for use.

Between side portions 4| of each U-shaped panel 34 is a flap 58 forming a leg for the stool and having hinge forming members 59 adjacent the upper edge, which are turned about the pin 40 for hingi-ng said flap on said pin. As shown, the leg forming flaps 58 are of a size to fit into the out out central portion of the U-shaped panels 34.

Attached to the plates 58 at each side thereof are ears 58b and secured to the inside edges of the legs 4| are similar ears 3%. Ears 58b and 361) have hinged thereto links 60 and 52 pivoted together at the ends of a shaft 64 extending from side to side of the plate 58 and forming the pivot for corresponding links at both edges of the plates 58. The links 68] and 62 are held against downward movement beyond approximately a straight line position by ears 62a formed on extensions of the links 62. The plate 58 is provided with notches 580 which permit the links 60 and 62 to be received between the edges of the plates 36 and 58 when the plates lie in or approximately in the same plane.

A suitable cord 66, secured to a ring 68, passes through the hole 20 in the web It! and has its other end attached to the shaft 54 and to the extension cords 10 secured to said cord 66 and extended to the shafts 64. By pulling up on the ring 58, the links 50 and 52 are pulled out of the locking recesses '48 and the pins 56 are permitted to slide down along the slot 46. By the same action, the links 68 and 62 are collapsed upwardly.

3 lifting motion of the ring 68 permits the panels to fall toward each other and the flaps 58 to fall toward the panels 34 and 36.

In addition, the wings 22 fall respectively clockwise and counterclockwise from the position as shown in Fig. 1, about their hinges 40, and the canvas web Ill envelops the outside of the collapsed framework.

When the seat is folded, the ring 68 may be held from dangling by means of a retainer comprising a short strip of material 15, which may be of canvas or the like, and which has one end secured to the upper side of the web H] by a rivet iii, or the like. Adjacent the opposite end of the strip is one part ll of a snap which is adapted to cooperate with a second snap part '18 secured to the web ID in the usual manner. In order to secure the ring, it is slipped on the strip 15 and the snap part T! snapped into the second snap part 18.

If desired, means for carrying the devices when folded may be provided, and, as shown, comprises a shoulder strap 80, of canvas, leather or the like, the ends of said strap being secured to opposite sides of the Web ill by any suitable means such as rivets, not shown.

' I claim:

1. A foldable stool comprising, when in position for use as a stool, in combination: a foldable base assembly including a pair of panel members hinged together along a bottom axis to form a central V-section with the panels extending upwardly from their hinge in divergent relation and terminating at a common level, said panel members having brackets providing slots extending from the terminal ends toward the bottom hinge and having locking pin recesses in said slot sides arranged outwardly of the slots from the inside of the V-section, a pair of locking links pivotally joined together above the hinge of the panel members having locking pins at the ends thereof engaging in the recesses, ears on the locking links for holding the links in a position in the recesses; leg forming flaps pivoted to the V members adjacent their upper ends, and locking links joining the flaps to the V members.

- 2. A foldable stool comprising, when in position for use as a stool, in combination: a foldable base assembly including a pair of panel members hinged together along a bottom axis with the panels extending upwardly from their hinge in divergent relation and terminating at a common level, said panel members having brackets providing slots extending from the terminal ends toward the bottom hinge and having locking pin recesses in the slot sides arranged outwardly of the slots from the inside of the panels, a pair of lockin links pivotally joined together above the hinge of the panel members, having locking pins at the ends thereof engaging in the recesses, ears on the locking links for holding the links in a position in the recesses; and seat means including rigid wings hinged at the upper ends of the panels and having engagement with the panel members to position the wings and a flexible web stretched between the wings.

3. A foldable stool comprising, when in position for use as a stool, in combination: a foldable base assembly including a pair of panel members hinged together along a bottom axis with the panels extending upwardly from their hinge in divergent relation and terminating at a common level, said panel members having brackets providing slots extending from the terminal ends toward the bottom hinge and having locking pin recesses in said slot sides arranged outwardly of the slots from the inside of the panels, a pair of locking links pivotally joined together above the hinge of the panel members, having locking pins at the ends thereof engaging in the recesses, ears on the locking links for holding the links in a position in the recesses; downwardly extending flaps forming foldable legs hinged on the panels at their upper ends, a pair of locking links pivotally joining each flap to the corresponding panel near the bottom of the legs and panels, and latching ears on the links for positioning the links in locked condition; seat means including a flexible web held on the panel members in stretched condition by the locking links; and releasing means including a cord extending through the web and engaging the latching means for pulling to unlock the links and to pull the flaps and panels into folded position.

4. The invention defined by claim 3 wherein the portion of the cord extending above the web is provided with a ring, and there is means for securing said ring to the web when the device is folded.

5. In a collapsible stool: a foldable base assembly including a pair of panel members hinged together along a bottom axis with the panels extending upwardly from their hinge in diverging relation and terminating at a common level, said panel members having means providing slots extending from the terminal ends toward the bottom hinge and having locking recesses in the slot sides arranged outwardly of the slots; a pair of locking links pivotally joined together having pins at the ends thereof for reception in the recesses; means for the locking links for holding said links in alignment so that the pins are held in said recesses; rigid wings hinged at the upper ends of the panels; and a flexible web attached to the free ends of the wings.

6. A folding stool comprising, in combination: a seat of flexible material having end edges and side edges; a frame structure including rigid wing members, the end edge portions of said seat being attached to the wing members at the upper ends thereof; a pair of base members, the lower ends of said base members being pivotally connected together, the opposite ends of said base members being spaced apart when the device is set up for use; and hinge means connecting said opposite ends of the base members and the respective ends of the lower wing members together, the hinged ends of said members being pivotally movable toward each other so that when the device is folded the wing members move on said hingesinto embracing relation with the base members and cause the seat material to involve the frame structure.

HENRY ENRIQUEZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 555,642 Evers et a1 Mar. 3, 1896 558,595 McGrami Apr. 21, 1896 841,343 Richolson Jan. 15, 1907 1,178,597 Owens Apr. 11, 1916 1,456,840 Zsikay May 29, 1923 2,015,560 Iafrate Sept. 24, 1935 

